The autopsy evidence did not determine whether the wounds were self-inflicted. In 2003, aged 34, he died in Los Angeles, California, from two stab wounds to the chest. His struggles with drugs and mental illness affected his life and work, and often appeared in his lyrics. Smith was a heavy drinker and drug user, and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression.

Smith rose to mainstream prominence when his song ' Miss Misery'-included in the soundtrack for the film Good Will Hunting(1997)-was nominated for the 1998 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

In 1997, he signed a contract with DreamWorks Records, for which he recorded his final two albums. He had a distinctive vocal style, characterized by his 'whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery', and often used multi-tracking to create vocal layers, textures, and harmonies.Īfter playing in the rock band Heatmiser for several years, Smith began his solo career in 1994, with releases on the independent record labels Cavity Search and Kill Rock Stars (KRS).

Smith's primary instrument was the guitar, though he also played piano, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and harmonica. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he gained popularity. Steven Paul Smith (August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003), known professionally as Elliott Smith, was an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

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